Meniscus - terminology
Submitted by admin on March 13, 2008 - 7:12pm.
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Sportspeople often call their menisci 'cartilages', dating back to a time when doctors referred to menisci as 'semi-lunar cartilages' (which means 'half-moon-shaped' cartilages). Because the gristle at the ends of the long bones is also covered in a material which is called 'hyaline cartilage', doctors eventually abandoned the use of the term semi-lunar cartilage. When it became clear that patients were getting muddled about the two types of 'cartilage', doctors began calling the one 'meniscus' and the other 'cartilage'. Unfortunately, the confusion over the terms still persists. In conversations with their patients, doctors often call the meniscus 'the cartilage', while writing 'meniscus' in their notes. Yet, when doctors talk to each other about cartilage, they are referring to hyaline cartilage only. To them the term 'cartilage'' definitely does not mean 'meniscus'. |
So, to avoid confusion -
- Drop the term 'cartilages' completely
- Refer to 'menisci' if you mean the shock absorbers between
the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone) - Refer to 'cartilage' when you mean the hyaline cartilage
at the end of the long bones (the 'gristle') - Don't let the surgeon muddle you up by misleading you with the old terminology. Ask him to clarify the terminology or to draw a picture.
- Try not to be confused by the internet's misuse of the old and new terminology.
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